Automatic waste-valve



(No Modell.) i

J. H. 81; E. Si BAC'N 81; VAN CORTLAND SECORD.

AUTOMATIC WASTE. VALVE.` N0. 330,664. Patented NOV. 17, 1885.

i .lr

'UNITED STATES ATENT Faros.' v

JOSEPH HENRY BACON, EBENEZER S. BACON, AND VAN CORTLAND SECORD,

v OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

AUTO NlATIC WASTE-VA LV E.

SPECIFICATION forming partof Letters Patent No. 330,664, dated November 17, 1885.

Application led September 10, 1885. Serial No. 176,676. (No model To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, JOSEPH H. BACON, EBENEZER S. BACON, and VAN CORTLAND SEOORD, of Detroit, in the county of Vayne and State of Michigan, have invented new and useful Improvements in Automatic Vaste- Valves, and we do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying'drawings, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in means for keeping up a circulation of water in and through servicepipes, to prevent the water in the latter from freezing'.

The fact that manyaccidents occur and much trouble is occasioned by the freezing up of the contents of the water service-pipes, especially in rigorous climates, is too well known to need explanation. Vlt is also well known that large quantities of water are wasted during the winter season by housekeepers leaving their water-faucets open in order to keep the flow under the ordinary pressures, thereby preventing disaster. It is also well known that a very small discharge will so keep the current passing through the pipes as to prevent freezing up.

4 The object of the present invention is to provide a valve to control a waste-opening, such valve being actuated by the temperature in such a manner that at or near the freezingpoint it will automatically open a discharge to the waste, thereby producing a circulation of water in the service-pipe with a minimum Y loss of water.

of any suitable material, connected by means of a branch pipe, C', near its top, with the service supply-pipe A, and a valve, a, may be inserted in this connecting-pipe C', which may be benecially used to cut off communication between A and D in moderate weather, when there is no danger of freezing, although this is not essential to the perfect working of our device. The lower end of the tube communicates by means of a branch or pipe, b, with the waste-pipe C. At the lower end of the tube D, and in a suitable chamber for the purpose, there is fitted the valve-seat c, upon which the valve vE seats itself to cut off the flow of water to the waste-pipe. The stem F of this valve E is so connected by any of the known means with the valve as to allow the latter to slightly oscillate, the more readily to seat itself under all contingencies, and this rod or stem is made of any metal, like zinc or brass, the expansion and contraction of which under varying temperatures is much greater than that of iron, lead, or other suitable material from which the tube D is made.l Screwed upon the top of the-tube D is a hollow cap, G, through which the rod H passes, such rod having at each end a thread cut thereon, that upon the lower end screwing into the top of the stem F, while that at the upper end is provided with an adjusting-nut, d, and a jamnut, e, and these parts are so arranged and adjusted that at theordinary temperatureof the water the valve is kept fto its seat by the pressure of the water, but as soon as the temperature falls to or near the freezing-point the contraction of the stem will raise the valve =from its seat and allow the water from the service-pipe to pass through the tube D to the waste, and thus produce a circulation which prevents the freezing of the water, and as the coldness of the water increases the contraction of the stem becomes greater, thereby allowing a greater iiow of water through to the waste, but on the temperature becoming normal again the expansion of the stem will gradually close said overflow through the valve.

We do not desire to confine ourselves to the position of the relative parts as shown in Fig. 1, nor to the construction of the parts as shown in Fig. 2, for we know that various modifications of this arrangement and con` struction may be had which We consider would come within the spirit and scope of our invention. H

As our deviceis only wanted to operate during the cold season of the year, we provide the pipe O with avalve, a, by means of' which communication maybe cut ott' between the service-pipe-and the tube D.

We are aware that it has been proposed to accomplish the same result by means of a waste-valve and a rod of metal subject to changes, operated by mechanism arranged outside the building. This has been found objectionable, for the reason that the valve is often opened when it is not necessary that it should be. By our construction the valve' is not opened till the temperature of the room. and ofthe water in the conduit is nearly at a freezingpoint.

Vhat we claim as our invention is* 1. In combination with a water servicepipe and a Waste-water pipe, a conduit connected with both, and a` valve arranged within said conduit and provided with a rod for operating the'same, the expansionand contraction of which differs from that of the said conduit, said valve being actuated by the changes of temperature of the water in said conduit, as set forth.

2. In combination with a waterservice-pipe and a waste-water pipe, a conduit connected with both, and a valve arranged within said conduit and provided with a stein or rod of metal the expansion and contraction of which is greater than thatof the said conduit, said rod being actuated by the changes of temperature of the water in said conduit, as set forth.

3. In combination, the service-pipe A, communicating with any suitable Water-supply, the conduit D, having a connection with such service-pipe, a valve, E. seated in such conduit D and controlling the outiiow through the connection with the waste-pipe, and provided with a Valve stem, F, of metal the expansion and contraction of which is greater than that of said conduit, substantially as and for the purpose specied.

4. In combination with a water service and a waste-water pipe, a conduit connecting near g vcon duit D, and controlling the outflow through the connection b with the waste-pipe O, a Valvestem, F, actuating such valve E, acap, G, on the top ofsuch conduit, a rod, H, tapped into the top of such valve-stem, and adjusting-nut d upon such rod H, the parts being constructed. and operating substantially as and for the purposes described.

JOSEPH HENRY BACON. EBENEZER S. BACON. VAN OORTLAND SECORD. W'itnesses:

H. S. SPRAGUE, E. J. SOULLY. 

